The former director of a foundation started by ex-Subway pitchman Jared Fogle was sentenced to 27 years in prison Thursday for producing child pornography that played a role in Fogle's criminal case.
Russell Taylor, 44, agreed in September to plead guilty to child exploitation and child pornography charges on accusations of using hidden cameras to produce and provide homemade child pornography to his boss.
Taylor also will have lifetime supervision after he serves his sentence.
Prosecutors recommended Taylor receive 35 years in prison. They said Taylor "repeatedly engaged in criminal activity targeting children" and his actions "greatly impacted the lives of 12 children and their families." His attorneys sought a sentence ranging from 15 years to nearly 23 years. A 15-year sentence is the minimum under federal law.
Taylor was executive director of the Jared Foundation, a non-profit Fogle started in 2009 to raise awareness and money to fight childhood obesity. The foundation operated until May of this year, when prosecutors filed child pornography charges against Fogle.
Indiana authorities who raided Fogle's suburban Indianapolis home in July have said their probe began in September 2014 based on a tip to Indiana State Police regarding Taylor's sexual interest in children.
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Federal prosecutors said Fogle, a 38-year-old father of two, received photos or videos from Taylor of eight of Taylor's 12 child victims and encouraged him to produce more child pornography.
Taylor has admitted in court documents to using hidden cameras to produce child pornography, but said it started by accident when security cameras captured a sexual encounter in his home office.
Taylor said in court documents he told Fogle about that first video, and Fogle encouraged him to put hidden cameras in other areas where "minors would be when either changing clothes or undressing to shower or bathe."
"Despite contentions made by Mr. Fogle, Mr. Fogle regularly requested additional videos of the minor children be made and even offered to provide Mr. Taylor with more sophisticated equipment to do so," the sentencing memorandum said.
Taylor contends Fogle was psychologically abusive toward him, saying Fogle would him make do things such as eat doughnuts and pizza despite his gluten intolerance.
"Mr. Fogle maintained control over Mr. Taylor's job, owned the home Mr. Taylor was living in, and provided a lavish number of experiences... all the while attempting to insulate himself from the risks of the conduct," the document said.
The court documents also allege Fogle "would refer to himself as Mr. Taylor's 'daddy' and there would be discussions of how much Mr. Taylor loved 'daddy' and reminding him that 'daddy' was paying for his things."
An 18-page psychological and psychosexual risk assessment submitted to the court said Taylor decided to seek counseling in 2012 after Fogle asked him "to get roofies," alleging Fogle wanted him to drug children to knock them out. Fogle's attorney, Ron Elberger, said he had not seen the accusations included in the document and that he would have no comment.
The sentencing memorandum describes Taylor as having been sexually assaulted by a neighbor and the neighbor's son between the ages of 5 and 8 years old and diagnosed with a depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder.
The document describes Taylor as deeply remorseful. Taylor's attorneys said the sentence requested by prosecutors would be unfair because it would be "2.5 times harsher" than Fogle's sentence.
